Plant-Based Diet: Why is the trend of plant-based diet increasing, know its importance and benefits

Plant-Based Diet : These days the trend of plant-based diet is increasing rapidly. There are not only health related reasons behind this but this issue is also related to environmental and ethical aspects. A plant-based diet is a dietary style that consists primarily of consuming foods derived from plants. This diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. The main focus of this diet is to give priority to plant-based foods.

However, a plant-based diet does not have to be completely vegan (free of animal products). This may be based on personal taste and may be vegetarian, semi-vegetarian or flexitarian (eat meat from time to time), but the main focus is on plant-based nutrition. But its focus is more on plant-based nutrition. A person can choose it according to his interest, need and opportunity.

What is Plant-Based Diet?

A plant-based diet is a diet based primarily on foods derived from plants. Its purpose is to promote health, prevent disease, and promote environmental sustainability. This diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, plant-based oils, and plant-based alternatives to milk. Plant-based diets focus primarily on foods derived from plants and include a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, plant-based oils, and plant-based alternatives to milk.

from a plant-based diet Benefit

This diet is rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals which promote our overall health. They contain low amount of saturated fat and high amount of fiber, which keeps cholesterol level under control and reduces the risk of heart diseases. Many researches have found that plant-based foods are helpful in preventing and controlling diseases like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. According to the Journal of the American Heart Association, those following a plant-based diet may have a 16% lower risk of heart disease. Plant-based foods are high in probiotics and fiber, which helps improve gut health. It improves the digestive system and strengthens the immune system.

Foods obtained from plants are low in calories, which helps in maintaining weight balance. This diet keeps the stomach full for a long time, which reduces the desire to eat again and again. A plant-based diet rich in fiber and antioxidants is helpful in controlling blood sugar. According to the American Diabetes Association, this diet may prove effective in preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes. According to a report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), those who eat a plant-based diet may slow down the aging process because it contains higher amounts of antioxidants and nutrients.

environmental sustainability

The trend of plant-based eating is also associated with environmental awareness. Producing animal-based foods uses more water, land and energy and also emits more greenhouse gases. In contrast, plant-based food is less harmful to the environment. According to the United Nations (UN) report, a plant-based diet can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which helps control climate change.

Awareness against animal cruelty

With increasing sensitivity towards animal rights, people are now turning to plant-based alternatives instead of meat and dairy products. Plant-based diets are also being adopted due to awareness against animal cruelty and for ethical reasons. New options for plant-based products such as plant-based meat and dairy products (e.g. soy milk, almond milk) are becoming available in the market. These alternatives are close to traditional products in taste and nutrition, due to which people are easily adopting them.

(Disclaimer : This article is based on general information. We do not make any claims regarding this.)